Trump: 'No Problem' with Muslim President If 'Properly Vetted'

Donald Trump says he doesn’t have a problem with a Muslim president if that person is thoroughly vetted first.

Asked last night on Fox about Ben Carson’s comments regarding electing a Muslim commander in chief, Trump said he has “a lot of respect for Ben Carson and I like him a lot.”

“I think that basically, if somebody can get elected, you know, they are going to be vetted and if somebody can get elected that’s what it is all about. It’s an electoral process. I would tend to go along with that,” Trump said. “You know, in this country, if you win an election.”

“But I would say this. You know, Ben was saying there are difficulties. And I think everybody knows what those difficulties are. And people want to be politically correct. But there have been difficulties. And a lot of people agree with Ben,” he added.

“I do think that Ben would also agree though if properly vetted. The proper people properly vetted going through an election, I think that anybody that is able to win an election will be absolutely fine.”

Pressed on whether he would support and vote for a Muslim candidate who had been vetted, Trump replied, “They would have to go through the long hard process. It’s a long, tough road…I can tell you, and it really is very revealing. And I would have no problem with it, no.”

“Of course, there is a difference,” between moderate and radical Muslims, he said.

“And we’re not talking about all. I know some people, some Muslims who are friends of mine who are great people, fantastic people and they are concerned with radicalism. Very, very concerned with radicalism, as much as you are, as much as I am,” the real-estate mogul continued.

“But you do have a problem with the radical Muslims and the whole thing that’s going on around the world. And, you know, a lot of people don’t want to hear about it. They think it’s not politically correct to say whatever you want to say about it, but the problem exists so we have to talk about it.”